In northwestern Pakistan, more than 300 people have lost their lives following two consecutive days of torrential rains, flash floods, lightning, and landslides, provincial authorities reported on Saturday. The most affected area is the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where at least 307 deaths have been confirmed, though officials fear the number could rise as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.
In the district of Buner, a total of 184 fatalities were reported after a cloudburst —an extremely intense localized downpour— caused sudden floods, leaving no time for residents to react. In the town of Beshonrai, more than 60 people died and around 20 remain missing, while dozens of homes were destroyed. A harrowing testimony comes from Saeedullah, who, after hearing a loud crash, rushed to his home only to find the roof collapsed.
With the help of neighbors, he recovered the bodies of his wife and children and buried them the following day with community support. Rescue operations, led by both civilian and military teams, have faced further setbacks after a rescue helicopter crashed due to severe weather, killing its five crew members.
Medical camps and food distribution centers have been set up to assist those affected. The country’s chief meteorologist attributed the severity of the disaster to factors such as climate change, construction in vulnerable zones, poor waste management, and the lack of urban planning, which amplified the impact of the flooding.
